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Antel takes reins of CLASS as dean

Former economics chair says he plans to pursue excellence

by Jennifer Brzowski
The Daily Cougar

John J. Antel was named dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences on March 15, having served as the college's interim dean since July 2002.

"I think it gives (CLASS) a greater feeling of stability, and that's the major thing," interim Provost Jerald Strickland said. "They ought to feel that they have a strong, capable, formidable advocate for their college."
 

CLASS, the largest of the University's 13 colleges, was formed in 2001 when the College of Humanities, Fine Arts and Communication merged with the College of Social Sciences.

"Those were two completely different cultures," Strickland said. "I think (Antel) has caused a great deal of healing to occur."

Antel, who earned his doctorate in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles, became interim dean of CLASS when former Dean W. Andrew Achenbaum resigned. Antel was chairman of the Department of Economics. Before joining the UH faculty in 1981, he worked as a labor and population studies consultant for the Rand Corp.

"I think the whole college is thrilled to see Antel appointed dean," political science professor Ross Lence said, adding that he hopes Antel will "make (CLASS) a real college ... right now, it's just a paper college."

Another professor praised Antel for his involvement with CLASS.

"We feel that he really is a dean from and for the faculty," assistant professor of classical studies Richard Armstrong said. "He's one of us ? that's the sort of feeling that people get. He isn't somebody hired from the outside to beat us up."

Armstrong said Antel became interim dean at a difficult time, not only because of the recent CLASS merger but also because of a statewide financial crisis.

"The fact that he weathered that well, and there weren't professors burning down buildings in anger, speaks well of him," Armstrong said.

Strickland said students with whom Antel has interacted also seem pleased with his appointment.

"I have never heard a student speak of deans like they speak of him," Strickland said. "They respect him; they know he has a sense of who they are, (and) that he's student-friendly. I think they trust him."

Antel's goal is simple.

"In one word, excellence ? in research, faculty creativity and instruction," Antel said. "I want us to be able to compete with The University of Texas and A&M," Antel said.

He said he will work to make the college a centerpiece for UH.

"I'm really excited about the future," Antel said. "I think the college is, and really should be, the center for undergraduate education at UH, and we're going to work really hard to improve that quality of undergraduate education."

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